Munish Sood
Mandi
Dr Tara Devi Sen has been conferred the Sant Ishwar Samman 2026 in the Women and Child Welfare category for her sustained work in documenting, conserving and promoting the Himalayan region’s rich heritage of wild edible plants and traditional botanical knowledge.
The prestigious honour was presented by Vice President of India C. P. Radhakrishnan at a ceremony held at Mavlankar Auditorium, Constitution Club of India, New Delhi. The award comprises a citation, memento and a cash prize of ₹1 lakh.
A total of 16 Sant Ishwar Samman awards were presented this year in recognition of notable contributions across diverse areas, including rural development, tribal conservation, women and child welfare, and support for children with special needs.
Dr Sen’s work goes beyond documenting Himalayan wild edibles. She has been working to connect traditional knowledge surrounding these plants with contemporary priorities such as nutrition, healthcare, sustainable livelihoods, women’s empowerment and community development.
As part of the event, Dr Sen also curated an exhibition highlighting the ecological, cultural and economic significance of Himalayan wild edible plants. The display featured books on wild edibles, photographic documentation and pine-based eco-craft, offering visitors an insight into the region’s traditional plant resources and their potential for sustainable livelihoods.
She also distributed Ashwagandha awareness brochures and interacted with visitors, drawing attention to the health, conservation and livelihood dimensions of traditional plant-based resources.
The recognition places a wider spotlight on the bio-cultural heritage of the Himalayas, where generations of communities have relied on locally available plant resources for food, traditional knowledge and livelihoods. Dr Sen’s work seeks to preserve this knowledge while exploring ways in which it can contribute to nutrition, community well-being and sustainable economic opportunities.
The Sant Ishwar Samman is being seen as a significant recognition of her efforts to bring Himalayan traditional knowledge and wild edible plant resources into wider public discourse, while highlighting their relevance to conservation and sustainable development.
